FA Trophy: Hornchurch 2 Harrow Borough 0
Hornchurch booked their place in the next round of the FA Trophy with a hard-fought win over Ryman Premier Division rivals Harrow.
The visitors were reduced to 10 men late in the first half when Nick Salapatas was given his marching orders for elbowing Alex Bentley.
But Urchins had to wait until just past the hour mark to make the breakthrough as new signing Michael Malcolm bundled home from close range when Joey May’s deflected chip came off the underside of the crossbar.
And they sealed their success in stoppage time – plus £2,700 in prize money – when Billy Coyne fired home a superb, swerving free-kick that left visiting keeper Nick Jupp rooted to the spot.
Barely a minute had been played when Martin Tuohy worked himself some space on the left of the box and sent in a left-footed shot which Jupp saved.
But, although Urchins enjoyed some good possession in the opening minutes they had to thank Sam Mott for a fine diving save on seven minutes to keep out Ben Long’s 20-yard volley.
Long sent a side-footed effort just past the far post on 12 minutes, following a quick Harrow counter on the right flank, but Hornchurch were probing at the other end, with Tuohy working hard and Thomas Gogo showing some nice touches, before Danny Johnson got tangled up in a tackle with Julian Smith which might have led to more but was quickly diffused.
The visitors were favouring their right side, as Long combined regularly with Salapatas, but Urchins captain Elliot Styles produced good tackles to thwart opposite number Marc Charles-Smith and Harold Odametey in the box before Malcolm’s through ball at the other end ran just beyond Tuohy.
Harrow went close just before the half-hour mark, when Charles-Smith found space on the left and his deep cross sat up kindly for Michael Vickers, who fired just over the angle of crossbar and post.
But Malcolm saw his shot deflected into the side netting soon after and Harrow were then reduced to 10 men when Salapatas threw out an elbow and caught Bentley as the two battled for possession just inside the Hornchurch half.
The visitors didn’t appear to have let the dismissal affect them, with Smith getting forward and sending in a dangerous low cross which Mott smothered.
But Coyne and Tuohy then combined well at the other end, only for the latter’s cross to fly just too high for Malcolm to get his head on it.
Harrow went closest to breaking the deadlock a minute before the break, though, when Michael Bryan’s deflected left-footed strike was pushed out by a full stretch Mott.
But Urchins should have taken the lead five minutes after the restart as Malcolm’s chip came back off the crossbar and fell for Tuohy, who sent his follow-up attempt against the woodwork as well from close range.
Johnson made a run from midfield to get onto Malcolm’s pass five minutes later, only to be denied by the legs of Jupp.
And Malcolm saw a shot deflected behind just past the hour mark before Urchins finally made the breakthrough as May’s deflected effort dropped off the underside of the crossbar, with Malcolm making sure at the far post.
Urchins went close to a second soon after as Gogo found Coyne on the right and his low cross was scooped over by Tuohy, who was then denied by an offside flag on 66 minutes after poking in Johnson’s nod down.
Omar Beckles had a header from Gogo’s cross saved by Jupp and the home side’s wait to find a second, clinching goal was causing a few nerves to fray as Harrow refused to throw in the towel, forcing late corners.
But Hornchurch kept their composure, retaining possession well in the closing stages, and sealed victory with a stunning, swerving free-kick strike from Coyne that left Jupp helpess.
Now Urchins wait to learn their fate when the second qualifying round draw is made on Monday.
Hornchurch: Mott, Coyne, Bentley, Styles, Beckles, May, Gogo (Marshall-Katung 77), Johnson, Tuohy, Malcolm (Scott 90), Bourne (Christou 88). Unused subs: Homans, Chafer.
Harrow: Jupp, Hall, Smith, Long, Peacock (Dyer 77), Sonuga, Salapatas, Odametey, Charles-Smith, Bryan, Vickers (English 66). Unused subs: Hurlock, Debattista.
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